Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Tajikistan instead of North Korea, you would:

Health

live 2.4 years less

In North Korea, the average life expectancy is 72 years (68 years for men, 76 years for women) as of 2022. In Tajikistan, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.1 times more likely to be obese

In North Korea, 6.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Tajikistan, that number is 14.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.4 times more money

North Korea has a GDP per capita of $1,700 as of 2015, while in Tajikistan, the GDP per capita is $4,100 as of 2022.

be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In North Korea, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Tajikistan, that number is 7.0% as of 2022.

Life

be 84.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In North Korea, approximately 107.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Tajikistan, 17.0 women do as of 2020.

have 95.5% more children

In North Korea, there are approximately 13.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Tajikistan, there are 25.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 45.6% more likely to die during infancy

In North Korea, approximately 22.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Tajikistan, on the other hand, 32.3 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 89.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In North Korea, approximately 53% of people have electricity access (36% in urban areas, and 11% in rural areas) as of 2021. In Tajikistan, that number is 100% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2021.

be 10.7% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In North Korea, approximately 94% of people have improved drinking water access (98% in urban areas, and 89% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Tajikistan, that number is 84% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Tajikistan: At a glance

Tajikistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, with a total land area of approximately 141,510 sq km. The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bands of indigenous guerrillas (called "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first created as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, but the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic in 1929 and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between regional factions from 1992 to 1997. Tajikistan endured several domestic security incidents during 2010-12, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and criminal groups in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the World Trade Organization in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistanis working in Russia, pervasive corruption, and the major role narcotrafficking plays in the country's informal economy.
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How big is Tajikistan compared to North Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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